Multipurpose drink and snack container set

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a set of heat insulating containers comprising one mug with two open ends and at least one closure covering at least one of said ends, whereas said closure is a cup or a lid or an extender cup, which either threads or pry on said mug, which may hold canned or bottled beverage secured by a hold down ring and whereas said mug and closures are heat insulating by either a solid body or by vacuum held between a double wall food grade stainless steel sheet metal structure. Said cup may hold dry food, such as snack or pastry. Said mug may hold coffee, beer, soda, milk or other drink, hot or cold. The set is useful in camping, car, kitchen, office and other places where some food and drink is consumed at times.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to pack mugs and similar beverage containers with heat insulation and snack storage capacities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention fulfills the need for carrying snack, pastry or treat with a beverage container, which can hold canned and bottled drinks, as well as beverages in bulk, hot or cold, and keep it all at around the packaged or filled temperature without adding or removing heat by force.

Inventors improved on the heat insulated pack mug in various ways without addressing the need of carrying dry food with it.

A hot coffee or tea in with some cakes or crackers can make a satisfactory meal between meals. Also, a clod soda and a hot bun with cheese melted on it or similar snack. All these in a simple small pack held at the right temperature is as desirable as the main meals.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple solution to satisfy such needs in a truly innovative way, with a mug incorporating snack compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above problems and others are at least partially solved and the above objects and others realized in a process, which according to the teachings of this invention, uses a heat insulated mug with a detachable snack compartment on its bottom and a selection of lids, which can close the mug and hold its content, which may include canned or bottled or bulk drink, as well as dry food, including snack or pastry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage and snack container set disassembled as one preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates in isometric section view the set of FIG. 1 assembled.

FIG. 3 illustrates the mug of FIG. 2 configured as a vacuum mug and lid assembly.

FIG. 4 illustrates in isometric section view another preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates in isometric section view the assembly of FIG. 4, configured differently.

FIG. 6 illustrates in isometric section view yet another preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates in isometric section view the assembly of FIG. 6, configured differently.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a beverage and snack container set disassembled as yet another preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Attention is now turned to FIG. 1, which, by assembly 10, illustrates in a perspective view of a beverage and snack container set disassembled as one preferred embodiment of the invention.

Assembly 10 is composed of mug 20 and two lids 30.

Mug 20 holds drink, while one of lid 30, as a cup, holds snack underneath mug 20 and the other lid 30 closes mug 20 to prevent drink spill off and to serve as a drinking cup. Mug 20 and lid 30 are snapped or threaded to lock into each other and are made of heat insulating material or structure.

Attention is now turned to FIG. 1, which, in isometric section view, by assembly 40, illustrates set 10 assembled and closed.

Assembly 40 is composed of mug 20 and a lower and an upper lid 30. Lid 30 is treaded onto mug 20. Mug 20 and lid 30 is made of solid heat insulating material, such as plastic, preferably porous or with foam core.

Mug 20 has bottom 21 and wall 22, with bottom threaded extension 23 and top threaded extension 24. Lid 30 has bottom 31 and wall 32, with threaded extension 33.

Extension 23 mates extension 33 and closes in lower sealed line 41. Extension 24 mates extension 33 and closes in upper sealed line 42.

Attention is now turned to FIG. 3, which, in isometric section view, by assembly 50, illustrates set 10 assembled and closed.

Assemble 50 is composed of mug 60 and lids 70.

Mug 60 is identical to mug 20, except it is a structure, made and built of thin metal double wall shells with vacuum in between. Lid 70 is identical to lid 20, except it is built as mug 60. Said metal is preferably food grade stainless steel.

It shall be obvious that the lower lid can be used for holding dry food, such as snack, and the upper lid may not necessarily identical to the lower one. Also, that vacuum and solid mug and lids may be combined.

Attention is now turned to FIG. 4, which, by assembly 80, in isometric section view illustrates another preferred embodiment of the invention with bottled drink.

Assembly 80 is composed of snack holder cup 70, mug 60, hold down ring 90 and beverage bottle 100.

Ring 90 is structured the same way and made from the same material as mug 60. It is an open version of lid 70 with turned in lips. It hold bottle 100 in mug 60 while the user drinks from bottle 100 and wish to keep it heat insulated during drinking, without taking it out and putting it back, which would be inconvenient and error prone. Ring 90 may accommodate most of the common size and shape cold-drink beverage bottles. Bottle 100 however may contain warmed up liquid, for instance milk for a baby. Vacuum prevents heat transfer by conduction in any direction, leaving the heat radiation unaffected. Between the inner and outer walls of the vacuum structures, there is heat conduction however.

Attention is now turned to FIG. 5, which, by assembly 110, in isometric section view illustrates assembly 80, however configured differently.

Assembly 110 is composed of snack holder cup 30, mug 60, hold down ring 120 and beverage bottle 100.

Ring 120 is the same as ring 90, however, instead of structured to hold vacuum, it is made of solid heat insulating material, the same as the material of cup 30. Obviously, mug 60 may be substituted by solid body mug 20.

Attention is now turned to FIG. 6, which, by assembly 130, in isometric section view illustrates yet another preferred embodiment of the invention with canned drink.

Assembly 130 is composed of mug 20, cup 30, ring 120 and can 140.

Ring 120 hold down most of the customary size beverage (beer and soda) cans.

Attention is now turned to FIG. 7, which, by assembly 150, in isometric section view illustrates assembly 130, however configured differently.

Assembly 150 is composed of mug 60, cup 70, ring 90 and can 140.

Attention is finally turned to FIG. 8, which, by assembly 160, illustrates in an isometric view of a beverage and snack container set disassembled as yet another preferred embodiment of the invention.

Assembly 160 is composed of mug 60, lower lid 70, as cup, upper lid 70 as closure and stacking cup 170, which is in essence a short mug 60.

Assembly 160 is the same as assembly 10, but with added cup 160, to illustrate stack-ability of the food container cups for more dry food storage.

It shall be obvious for the skilled in the art of food and beverage accessory making that configuring or supplementing hold down rings 90 or 120 straw spout or sippy cup accessories are minor modifications to serve the same purpose somewhat better. Increasing the number of cups, stackers and rings in the set however, may not keep the utility or function of the set simple enough to be justified.

It shall also be obvious that said means of securing said mug and its closures (lids, cups and rings) are illustrated here only as exemplary embodiments. Hinges, doors and other means may also be configured, though threading or prying are the most common ways pack mugs are designed with.

The present invention is described above with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made in the described embodiment without departing from the nature and scope of the present invention. For instance, using conventional plastic lids with means to let drink from the mug while driving or just to keep it closed while not seeping from it is intuitive and thus instructive over the teaching of the invention and thus considered being within its scope. Adding handles, decorative bulges and other convenience or esthetic appendages are also considered obvious modifications.

Various further changes and modifications to the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof. 

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is:
 1. Set of heat insulating containers comprising one mug with two open ends and at least one closure covering at least one of said ends. 2.) Set as per claim 1, whereas at least one of said closures is a cup, having capacity to hold liquid. 3) Set as per claim 1, whereas at least one of said closures is a ring, having capacity to hold down a bottle. 4) Set as per claim 1, whereas at least one of said closures is a ring, having capacity to hold down a can. 6) Set as per claim 1, whereas at least one of said closures is a cup, stackable with said closures. 7) Set as per claim 1, whereas said closure is threaded at least in one end into said mug. 8) Set as per claim 1, whereas said closure is threaded at least in one end into one of said closures. 9) Set as per claim 1, whereas said closure is secured by pressing in at least in one end into said mug with prying force enough to ensure against accidental disengagement. 10) Set as per claim 1, whereas said closure is secured by pressing in at least in one end into one of said closures with prying force enough to ensure against accidental disengagement. 11) Set as per claim 1, whereas said heat insulating is ensured by solid body. 12) Set as per claim 1, whereas said heat insulating is ensured by vacuum held within a double wall structure. 13) Set as per claim 1, whereas said heat insulating is ensured by vacuum held within a double wall structure of food grade stainless steel sheet metal. 14) Set as per claim 1, whereas said mug holds at least one of the following materials: a) liquid beverage, b) dry food, c) bottle, and d) can. 15) Set as per claim 1, whereas at least one of said closure holds at least one of the following materials: a) cold beverage, b) hot beverage, c) hot soup and d) food. 